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ALL YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN SPELLS
The most powerful magickal experiences will always be the ones that you have had a major hand in creating.
Here you can tailor-make your own spells by following all or some of the steps below and utilizing the magickal correspondences which follow in the rest of this chapter. Don’t be afraid to try anything, and remember – it doesn’t have to go like clockwork! Be prepared to get confused, make mistakes and learn. The more spells you cast, the better you get!
Steps
1 Decide what you want to do, e.g.: A spell for courage;
2 Go to ‘Days’ for the best day on which to perform the spell;
3 Go to ‘Moon Phases’ for the best time in the lunar cycle;
4 Go to ‘Colours’ for colour advice regarding candles, paper, cloth and thread, etc;
5 Go to ‘Numbers’ for advice on how many candles should be used, how many pentagrams should be carved into candles, etc;
6 Go to ‘Crystals’ to find which stones should be used to focus energy or should be included in amulets and charms;
7 Go to ‘Herbs and Oils’ to find which herbs and oils to mix into incense to use for anointing, and to include in charms;
8 Go to ‘Goddesses and Gods’ to find the appropriate Deities to ask for assistance and blessings;
9 Go to ‘Elementals, Angels and Mythical Animals’ for extra magickal help.
A Suggested Spell-Plan Using the Above
On your chosen day, and your chosen time, set up your altar with the appropriate candles, incense, crystals and other items, and brew some tea (see Seven Days to a Magickal New You! for more information on tea-brewing) using herbs appropriate for your intent.
Cast Circle, invoking the Deities and any other beings, e.g. Elementals, Angels, etc (see the Spell Boundaries chapter for details). Burn some of the incense and place the rest in the centre of the cloth with a small piece of crystal. Anoint yourself with the Pentagram, using some of your chosen oil and take a few sips of the tea you have prepared, being aware that you are stimulating your magickal powers and aligning all the energies within Circle to work your spell. Write your desire on a piece of paper, fold it seven times and place in the centre of the cloth (in this instance, you are sealing all the gathered items into the cloth to create a charm). Place your hands over the charm and call on the powers of any Elementals, Angels or animal spirits that you have invited into Circle to channel their energies through you to strengthen the charm. Now, tie up the edges of the cloth with thread or ribbon, sealing the contents inside. Take another few sips of your herb tea to ground yourself and the spell is complete. Thank and bid farewell to the attending beings, and close Circle in the usual way.
Open Your Mind …
Sometimes to access the ‘world between the worlds’ doesn’t require elaborate ritual, dedicated meditation, or initiation into occult secrets. Often all that is needed is a silencing of the ‘censor’ that is in the hearts and minds of so many of us. The censor is the voice that says, ‘This is stupid, this is make-believe, you’re imagining things, what would everyone think?’ I find that a warm, relaxed, intuitive headspace is the key to worlds beyond, and the lock that bars those worlds is only self-doubt.
The most magickal thought you can achieve is the unshakeable, unconditional faith in your own infinite abilities.
Days
Monday
* Ruled by the Moon;
* Divination and female health issues.
Tuesday
* Ruled by Mars;
* Courage, confrontations and strength.
Wednesday
* Ruled by Mercury;
* Travel, money, academic success.
Thursday
* Ruled by Jupiter;
* Jobs, careers, friendships, wealth (not just of money, but of spirit, confidence, etc).
Friday
* Ruled by Venus;
* Love, sex partnerships.
Saturday
* Ruled by Saturn;
* Knowledge, especially esoteric/occult knowledge, banishing of limitations, exorcisms, legal issues.
Sunday
* Ruled by the Sun;
* Growth, healing, male health issues.
Moon Phases
If it’s been overcast for days and you’re not sure which phase the moon is in, you can buy a moon calendar from a New Age occult supply store (see Crafty Contacts at the back of this book). Also, most newspapers report the phase of the moon every day on the weather page.
Full Moon
A great time to do any magick as the lunar energies are ripe and potent.
New Moon
New plans and new beginnings; a time to sow the seeds of future success.
Dark Moon
The three days of the dark moon are not the best for spellcasting, but are particularly good for divination.
Waxing Moon
Building, growth, strengthening, encouragement, a time to set things in motion and put impetus behind them.
Waning Moon
Retreat, reversal, banishing, protection, cleansing – a time of reflection on what occurred during the waxing moon.
Note: be resourceful when you are working with lunar energies. For example, if you want to do a spell for personal empowerment, but it is the time of the waning moon, concoct a spell to banish fear, loneliness and insecurity. If you want to do a spell for prosperity, but it is the dark moon, do a Tarot or rune reading for information on what actions will best suit your goals in the coming weeks.
Magickal Music
Music is the voice of the soul and playing music during certain ritual work can enhance the proceedings. Often Witches, in being attached to the old Western European roots of their tradition, will play pan pipes or folky, bardic music, but personally I find these really put me off. I have been known to play hard metal at home rituals when I have needed to conjure up a lot of adrenalin, and really trippy, ambient trance techno, as well as recordings of Tibetan throat singers for deep introspective, meditation work. You can sometimes get really interesting results by using fairly unusual music in magickal ritual. At other times, however, music can be distracting, especially if there are lots of lyrics, so it is really up to you as to whether you include it. At group gatherings and coven meetings I have attended, music is often used at key points in the ritual, whether it is spontaneous drumming, hymns to the Goddess, or songs performed by coven members with lyrics pertaining to the work at hand.
Colours
Colours permeate every moment of our lives, each having its own unique vibration and psychological, therapeutical and magickal effect. At the core of everything is light (an interaction of electrical energy and magnetism) and colours are the various wavelengths that form light. Occult scholars believe that the seven colours of the light spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) represent the evolution of the Universe and that we have already passed through three: red, orange and yellow, and are now midway through the green period, moving beyond primitive development and into higher periods of spiritual development. Human auras are electrical emanations from our bodies which manifest as colours and scientists have determined that our brains emit thoughts measurable as colours, as well as infra-red and ultraviolet waves and beyond! Using colour in magickal work empowers spells in a huge way as they can be used to manipulate the potential of events and objects, so put some thought into the colour of the candles, paper, cloth and ink you use; the colour of the clothing or jewellery you wear when doing ritual, as well as the colour of flowers or other objects you may have on your altar. Following are the magickal properties of colours for use in rituals and spells:
White
Cleansing, protection and spirituality. White is not considered a true colour, as it contains all seven of the spectrum. It can take the place of any colour. For example, if you need to do a spell for healing in a hurry and you can’t get any blue candles, you can use white instead.
Purple
Power, success and commitment, psychic matters.
Red
Lust, passion, courage, willpower, vigour, endurance and ambition.
Blue
Healing, happiness, guidance, truth and religious inspiration.
Green
Prosperity, fertility, employment, good luck and beauty.
Yellow
Concentration, action, wisdom, intellect and learning.
Orange
Legal matters, confidence, pride and empathy.
Pink
Love, friendship, leisure, gentleness, reconciliation.
Black
Used for accessing the subconscious, banishing and binding and for invoking periods of rest; it can also be used in legal spells. Not considered a true colour, black is actually the absence of colour.
Silver
Representative of the Goddess and the Moon, silver can be used to stimulate visions and intuition.
Gold
Representative of the God and the Sun, gold can be used to stimulate the Life Force and the longevity of things.
Brown
Can be used to assist things of a practical nature which need to be grounded in solid application of effort; can also eliminate indecisiveness.
Grey
Legal matters and other formal issues.
Numbers
Pythagoras, the famous 6th-century BC Greek philosopher and mathematician, believed that all things could be defined by numbers and their values; and Carl Jung, the (fairly esoteric) Swiss psychologist, considered numbers to be pre-existent to consciousness, that is, they were not invented by humans but are the original form of order in the Universe. Ancient peoples like the Egyptians, Babylonians, Sumerians, the Hindu Vedas and Celts all considered numbers to have mystical and sacred properties.
When working spells, incorporate number energy by, for example, carving a certain number of notches or pentagrams into a candle to represent an outcome or quality you desire. Tie a certain number of knots into a cord or ribbon to attract specific energies. Use a certain number of drops of oil or pinches of incense or herbs to focus magickal results. Following are the various magickal properties of numbers:
1
* Colour: white
* Planet: the Sun
* Beginnings; agreements; God energy; success, fame and money; and male fertility.
2
* Colour: blue
* Planet: the Moon
* Duality; symmetry; balance; protection; spells to do with health, vitality and women’s fertility; visions and intuition.
3
* Colour: green
* Planet: Jupiter
* Life’s journey, birth/life/death; the Triple Goddess, Maiden/Mother/Crone; goals; objectives; expansion in endeavours; education and financial prosperity (especially involving dealings with banks or financial advisors).
4
* Colour: brown
* Planet: Uranus
* Relates to the four elements (air/earth/fire/water), so it can work for spells to do with manifesting things on the physical plane. The influence of Uranus can work to shatter preconceptions of the self leading to new growth, so it also relates to spells to do with necessary changes and triumphs over adversity, and also removing the veils of misconception, and perhaps ego.
5
* Colour: red
* Planet: Mercury
* Considered a lucky number, it relates to the five points of the pentagram, as well as the four elements, plus the fifth, being spirit. It also represents a human’s place in the scheme of life’s evolution and so can be used for spells involving perception; psychic endeavours; communication; flexibility to change and virtuous quality of thoughts; as well as teaching and travel with a view to gaining and sharing knowledge.
6
* Colour: yellow
* Planet: Venus
* Devotion; completion of tasks (according to the Bible, the world was created in six days); love and passion; family and children concerns; the seeking of pleasure and contentment; and anything to do with supporting and enhancing the arts – music, literature, acting, etc.
7
* Colour: purple
* Planet: Neptune
* This is a very mystical number and is connected to the seeking of wisdom (as opposed to information and knowledge), visions and prophecy. It can assist spells to do with initiation into mysteries and also reconciling the past with present.
8
* Colour: orange
* Planet: Saturn
* Relates to justice and legal matters; fate; redemption; and personal transformation, power and career matters. Also for communicating with the dead, and it can assist in lifting the veils between the worlds (as at Samhain).
9
* Colour: silver
* Planet: Mars
* Nine is an amazing number as it can be multiplied by any number and the result, when added together, will always add to nine. It is the number of perfection, Universal law and the ultimate truth of life which is ‘energy cannot be destroyed – it only changes form’. Use this number when the going is particularly hard to guarantee a successful outcome. The Mars energy ensures valour and triumph over obstacles.
Double digit numbers
The number 13 is often associated with Hollywood Witchcraft and is considered bad luck. Magickally though, double digit numbers are generally added together to be reduced to a single digit (there are a few exceptions like 10, 11 and 22) so 13 actually becomes 4 which relates to positive change, but also conflict through change.
Crystals
Crystals sometimes get ridiculed for being overused New Age crutches, but ancient cultures have always held them sacred and used them in meditation and healing. Today, crystals are used in watches, computers and laser technology and this can be considered magickal.
Crystals are created by geological processes when superheated steam carrying minerals is released from the Earth’s magma under the crust. The minerals crystallize on the walls of the fissures in the Earth’s crust through which the steam passes. All crystals form in beautifully intricate and geometrically precise patterns. Quartz is a spiral of silicon and oxygen atoms held in place by shared electrons, so the electrical properties of a tiny piece of crystal in a watch make it accurate.
In magickal work, a wand is often topped with a crystal, which amplifies its conjuring and manifestation abilities; crystals can be placed on objects (including human bodies!) to clear blockages; they can be used in communicating with the dead (since they are considered to be capable of channelling spirits into the physical world), as well as divination. They always look beautiful, so they are featured in a lot of Witches’ ceremonial jewellery and on top of a lot of altars for their allure and energy-enhancing and attracting properties.
Crystals are very important as they are used in healing to pass energy (often channelled from the Universal source) through the healer to the person, animal or thing requiring treatment. Crystals can also work to clear and clarify human auras and release suppressed fears and other destructive emotions.
You don’t have to be a New Age hippie to benefit from crystals – just have an open mind. Every object, living or inanimate, has its own energy aura that extends about three feet around it, so keep an appropriate crystal on your desk, in your handbag, backpack, briefcase, purse, around your neck or wrist as jewellery, or in a charm bag tucked into your pocket, to receive its benefits. Below, I have listed a selection of often-used crystals in magickal work.
Note: when buying crystals try to get them in as natural a form as possible. If they’re all smooth and round usually they have been treated with chemicals and tumbled in a violent way (supposedly to enhance their colours and uniformity).
Quartz
Amethyst: The ultimate New Age crystal! Amethyst is fantastic to use when meditating (lie down and place a piece over the third eye) as it initiates wisdom, understanding and humility, helping you to let go of what is blocking you and allowing your true destiny to emerge. It’s great for work in eradicating addictions, moodiness, stress and sadness. Folklore has it that it can cure drunkenness!
Clear Quartz: This is the most common crystal and can be used in almost limitless ways. It contains the full spectrum of light and can enhance creativity and inspiration, increase confidence and often works particularly well when used by males. Use this to amplify the intent of any spell, to screen out bad vibes and to bestow blessings and protection.
Rose Quartz: Known as the Love stone, Rose Quartz works to release the pain of a broken heart and to bring new love and friendship into your life. It promotes harmony in established relationships, as well as fertility. It can also work in any healing spells when the impulse to heal comes from unconditional love.
Smoky Quartz: Relates to strength, physical stamina and the material plane. It can transform negativity into positivity and, as it stimulates primal energy, is good for spells involving sex magick.
Agate
There are many types of agate and they all work towards enhancing communication and sometimes healing (Blue Lace Agate is good for this). Have agate around if you are having problems with getting on with people at work or school; and also to assist in job finding and fulfilment at work.
Other Crystals
Black Obsidian: Polished slices of this are great for scrying (see the chapter Divine Dealings for more about this). Its energy is aligned with the planet Pluto and as such can be used to encourage deeper journeys into the self. Use it in talismans where you are working to enhance your ability to reach an ego-less state (the right space to be in when doing divinatory work).
Bloodstone: Aids in power for all spells, protects against hexing and gives wisdom and courage.
Citrine: This is one of my favourites – it’s great for stimulating intellect (wear some around your neck when studying or doing mentally taxing work). Wear a large chunk dangling over your solar plexus chakra to enhance personal power and have it around for spells involving material gain and career success. It can also protect from harm (as Angels are supposedly attracted to it!).
Diamond: Protects from evil, clears out psychic dangers, assures the owner of love and comfort.
Fluorite: Another of my favourites, especially when it is cut into pyramid form. I know I explained earlier how to get nice raw rocks, and I’m breaking my own rule here – but rules are made to be broken! The pyramid cut really does enhance this particular crystal’s qualities. It’s extremely good for thinking processes, helping to clear out the dross and get focused, as well as stimulating original creative ideas. It can also stimulate prophetic dreams and aid in magickal power.
Hematite: Good for relieving RSI (repetitive strain injury). I discovered this whilst writing this book! One day my hands were hurting so much I couldn’t pick up a pencil, but I handled a piece of this stone and after a few minutes the pain was gone. Quite a miracle! It’s a great healing stone and good for spells to do with growth and prowess.
Jasper: Ensures success in business and courage.
Lapis Lazuli: The ancient Egyptians used lapis lazuli to stimulate psychic abilities and to represent royal status, especially if the stone had lots of gold flecks – which is actually iron pyrite. They would grind the stones down and make blue dyes for the robes of their exulted ones. Today it can be used as a mental and spiritual cleanser, as well as a way to connect with the Goddess and God (within!) or in any spell where you need to really rise above anything that’s holding you back and do something spectacular! It can also encourage fidelity in love, peace, happiness and beauty.
Malachite: Use this in any empowerment spells where you really want to let go of past memories and fears and move on … but beware! Malachite amplifies your current mood and mirrors externally what is within, so, while it can be a powerful aid for transformation, you should use it only when you really know it’s time to change. Because it can effectively hold negativity and malice, it can be used in hexing and binding spells.
Moonstone: Good for spells involving ‘female issues’, e.g. menstruation, lactation, ovulation – anything to do with a woman’s body’s ability to breed. Also, hold a piece in each hand when you are trying to see auras – it can help. It enhances any spells to do with invoking Lunar essence.
Onyx: Carry to banish woes and bring self-control to the emotions.
Sodalite: Dispels guilt and fear and gives divine inspiration.
Tiger’s Eye: Great for spells involving courage, legal battles and luck.
Tourmaline: As I mention in my chapter Cyber-Sorcery, it’s great to have Tourmaline around your computer not only to enhance the effectiveness of your Internet surfing, but also to ward off problems with electrical equipment (like a computer crash).
Notes on Caring for Crystals
Rinse them periodically in salty water (the ocean is best) and put them under the light of the full moon or the morning sun to charge them up again. You can also bury them in earth for seven days or place them on a large, cleansed amethyst cluster to clear any stored vibrations. Use your intuition as to how often you clean your crystals.
Other (Non-Crystals)
Amber: This is a fossilised resin that can sometimes have insects and other things embedded in it (remember Jurassic Park?!). It is used for healing, luck and protection when working with spirits and other Beings. It can aid in childbirth (wear a necklace of amber), and it is also used in the traditional Witch’s necklace of amber and jet.
Cats Claws: Carry to protect from slander, arguments and harassment from enemies.
Coral: This is the skeletal matter of sea creatures – it has magickal properties of protection and healing.
Cowrie Shells: These look a bit like female genitalia and represent Goddess energy on my altar. Whenever I find one I consider it a sign of good fortune.
Dried Lizards: If you find a little one in the countryside or by the road, keep it on your altar when doing spells to increase success and for luck.
Jade: Protects from psychic attack and nightmares, and gives health and long life.
Pig’s Tusk: I found one of these on a beach on Tanna, the southernmost Pacific island of Vanuatu (it has a live volcano which you can climb). In Vanuatu, a pig’s tusk worn around the necks of male chiefs is a symbol of prosperity and fertility. I have it on my altar to represent male energy.
Opal: Great for use in beauty (self-appreciation) spells, and it can protect from curses.
Pearl: Confers beauty and grace, and is great for love spells working for long-lasting, deep relationships.
Petrified Wood: Protects against illness and injury and gives security in relationships. Can also help to ensure a safe journey.
Ruby: The greatest stone for ensuring good health; it also protects against financial ruin.
Shark’s Tooth: Keep one in your wallet to ensure plenty of money.
Snail Shell: Gives stability in money and business, brings patience and aids in meditations.
Snake’s Skin: Rumour has it that if you carry one with you in a yellow bag when you go to the casino you can win lots of money! Personally I think snake skins bestow wisdom and a sense of moving beyond time, so they can assist in rituals to do with rebirthing of the spirit.
Topaz: Aids in clairvoyance and protects from accidents. Also heals anger and hurt.
Turquoise: Brings health and optimism and has a calming effect.
Gold and Silver: A lot of Witchy books suggest that male Witches’ ceremonial jewellery should be gold, and female Witches’ silver, as gold is ruled by the Sun and silver by the Moon. But everyone has male and female in them and just as many men are drawn to silver as women are to gold. Both substances are powerful to use in magickal work. Flecks of gold, when added to any spell-working, whether it be in charms, amulets, or, for example, sprinkled over a sick person, will give it an added boost. When worn, silver amplifies magickal powers and assists with accurate intuition. Silver and gold jewellery set with crystals becomes powerful magickal accessories, but make sure that the settings are open – for example, in a ring, make sure the base of the stone where it is closest to the skin is not covered by metal – it has to be suspended in the setting for it to work as an energy amplifier.
Herbs and Oils
There are many thorough and comprehensive books on herbs and oils and their magickal uses and I won’t try to list them all here. What I have done is listed everything that is in my magickal pantry right now to give you an idea of what is handy to keep on hand. It’s worth noting that herbs used in magickal work are kept just for that – don’t use them for cooking (unless you’re doing a food spell) – and it’s best to grow them yourself when possible.
A Tip on Making Magickal Incense
Take one teaspoon each of three different dried plant herbs, one teaspoon of resin, and one of wood or woody substance all relating to your magickal intent, grind them together in a mortar and pestle (or coffee grinder if you can’t be bothered doing it by hand), then add a specific number of drops of various oils depending on your intent and the scent (try not to add more than nine drops to this proportion of ingredients).
Don’t add too much resin or oil or else when you burn it on charcoal discs it will get all gummy and put itself out. The above proportions are suggestions only, though, and can be increased proportionally for larger quantities. Don’t be afraid to experiment, just make sure when you hit on a great smelling and magickally powerful combination you jot down the exact combination in your Book of Shadows.
Herbs, Gums and Resins
Belladonna: Poisonous herb which produces out-of-body states when ingested. I never take it internally – instead I have a flying ointment which includes a little of this and a couple of other things in a base of coconut oil with a few drops of wintergreen, which, when applied to the pulse points, is good for achieving the frame of mind required for divination.
Benzoin Gum: Has purification qualities and is a good base for any incenses.
Chamomile: Prepares the mind and body for magick work by opening the inner psychic doors. Drink it and float a muslin sachet filled with the flowers in your purification bath before ritual. If you wash your hands in cool chamomile tea it can help ensure dexterity and success with manual tasks.
Comfrey: Ensures safety during travel and protects against your money being stolen. An external poultice of the leaves will help knit broken bones and heal burns, swelling, broken skin and bruises, and the root can be boiled in wine or water to make a tea to help with coughs, lung infections and diarrhoea.
Copal: Another resin that makes a good base for incenses and works well in love spells.
Damiana: Used in lust and love spells and to induce visions of future lovers. Drunk before bed, it can relax one for lovemaking and promote pleasant dreams.
Dittany of Crete: When burnt it is thought that spirits will appear in the smoke. When included in incense it’s good for astral projections.
Dragon’s Blood Powder: This dramatically named substance is actually resin from a palm tree. I use a pinch in nearly all spell workings as it binds good fortune to any outcome and protects against spells misfiring in any way.
Elderflower: I mainly use this to make a mild tea as it is a blood purifier. I also a make a light infusion, cool it in the fridge and splash my eyes with it after working on the computer for too long as it eases eye strain.
Frankincense: A magickal substance! Can be used in any spell and is extremely potent as a base for any incenses with its protection and opulence qualities. If you’re feeling really spooked about anything, burn some frankincense as it increases your safety straight away. Baby Jesus was thrilled when three wise men gave him some – it’s precious stuff!
Galangal: I have dried pieces of this root – it’s used in Indian and Thai cooking, but is very effective for lust spells, and at the other end of the spectrum, it can help win the favour of a jury!
Gardenia: This is my favourite flower and I dried the petals from my own plant. They can be used in healing and love spells and are a good offering to the Goddess during Full Moon rituals.
Hemlock: A classic Witches’ herb. I make a small brew of this and dip my athame into it every now and again to keep it charged and aligned with the ‘worlds between the worlds’ (so that I can slice through astral veils more effectively to access those worlds).
High John the Conqueror Root: I keep a piece of this root soaking in jojoba oil with three drops of peppermint oil, and one of lemon, in a sealed glass container out of the sun. I use this as an anointing oil any time I’m doing a spell where I’m concerned I’m not focused enough but I really need to do the spell. It helps ensure success at endeavours.
Hops: I make sleep charms with these to help deal with my insomnia (which I often have because I worry too much!). I stuff a pale blue cloth bag with hops, vervain and lavender and hang it from the bed post.
Lavender: Lavender is one of those herbs that can be used in any spell to enhance its effect. Good for spells for love, peace, youthful vigour and also for dealing constructively with grief over any kind of loss.
Mandrake Root: An infamous Witches’ herb. Myth has it that the plant is so powerful and inherently evil that it kills or sends mad anyone who tries to pull it up. Apparently the only safe way to acquire it is to tie a dog firmly to the plant and then entice the dog away so that it pulls up the plant by the root. It has narcotic properties and can be used as an aphrodisiac. It is prized by Witches for use as a poppet, as the root resembles the body of a human. The root is hard to come by and generally will be dried. To reactivate the mandrake root for magickal use, place in a glass or crystal bowl filled with spring water and a quartz crystal and leave out under the moon – it will be charged according to which moon you leave it under, waxing (for building), waning (for banishing), dark (divination) or full (just about anything).
Mugwort: Use to enhance psychic powers (burn in incense) and prophetic dreams (drink a cup of tea before bed and place some under the pillow). Purify any items you use for divination and prophecy (such as a crystal ball) by placing them in an infusion of the herb and also store some of it dried with your Tarot cards and runes, etc. It can also be used in protection spells, and spells to do with physical endurance (Roman soldiers used to place it in their shoes before commencing long marches) and libido.
A Few Essentials
It’s a good idea to have a basic supply of a few commonly used herbs and oils. If you are doing a spell from a book it will often have a lengthy list of ingredients and, especially if the book was written overseas, some of these may be very hard to come by. From experience I have found that there are a few staples that will get you through any ritual, because it’s OK to substitute if you really can’t get hold of something.
One essential is frankincense gum. It can be used in any spell and its purification and protective powers always come in handy. Another good thing to have is some sandalwood, either the chips or the powder. It also has protective and purification powers and can be substituted for any missing ingredient in healing spells.
Dragon’s Blood Powder is another staple. It can be used as a purification and protection agent and is an important ingredient for spells focusing on love energy. The above three substances might seem bizarre and exotic but they are easily available at New Age and Witchcraft supply stores.
I always have a jar of rosemary on hand too as it has purification qualities and can be added to any healing and love sachets, or incense mixes. Mugwort is another essential. It is often called ‘the Witches’ herb’ as it pops up in heaps of spells, mainly for the role it plays in increasing psychic powers.
Lavender oil is an important staple. It’s not too expensive and can be used in spells of protection, purification, healing and love. Bergamot oil is another I always have on hand now. It has qualities of protection and is good for attracting prosperity in all areas of life. I also always have basil oil on hand as it is great for spells that focus on promoting harmony and open communication.
When you are substituting one ingredient for another it’s a good idea to enchant the substituted item to align its vibrations with the requirements of the spell. For example, specific protection spells may require St John’s Wort for the protective charm but you can substitute frankincense. Before adding the frankincense to the mix place it in a separate bowl and rest both hands over it. Close your eyes and visualize white light entering through your crown chakra and flowing into your hands. See the light form a glowing orb around the bowl and say, ‘Frankincense, I call on your protectiveness’ repeatedly until you sense that it is indeed emanating its most protective vibrations. I usually feel this as a heat that builds up under my palms until they are tingling and I get an instinctive feeling that the substituted item is ready to be added to a spell.
Myrrh: A beauty! Remember what the Three Wise Men gave to baby Jesus? Perhaps he would have preferred a small stuffed bear or something, but maybe babies had different tastes back then. Myrrh works much the same as frankincense and the two burned together are very good to exorcise negativity.
Nettle: Best for use in reversing hexes. If someone sends you a poppet or effigy that’s meant to be you, cut it open, stuff it with nettle and send it back, or throw it into the sea, and it nullifies the spell. Also sprinkle nettle around the outside of your house, or over the doormat if you live in a flat, to prevent people you don’t like from entering.
Orris Root (powdered): Used in love spells. Sprinkle a little onto the sheets for passionate love-making, as opposed to sexual gymnastics!
Patchouli: Use in love and desire spells as well as money and prosperity spells.
Rosemary: Use for spells to do with mental ability (drink a light brew of rosemary tea during ritual). Also, its strong smell and voluminous smoke when burnt means that it’s great for cleansing and purifying areas. It’s also reputed to strengthen the memory and can be used in spells to keep a lover faithful, as well as enhancing commitment and loyalty in other endeavours. Sprigs under the pillow can prevent bad dreams and if you make a box from the wood of the plant and keep it where you sleep, it will preserve your youth!
Rose Petals: I dry these myself from roses given to me as gifts. I use them in any spell where I want to promote purity of intent and an unconditional appreciation of the outcome. They can obviously be used in love spells.
Rue: Can be used to exorcise negativity as well as enhancing mental powers and the ability to apply oneself to a task. Mix nine drops of morning dew into half a cup of cool, brewed rue tea and sprinkle it around the circumference when casting Circle for help in manifesting a protected and sacred space. Add it to salads as it enhances eyesight.
Sage: Used in money spells, as well as wisdom and longevity spells.
Sandalwood Chips and Powder: Protection, exorcism, healing – sprinkle the dust around a place to clear negative energy. This burns really well and is good to add to incense to encourage combustion.
St John’s Wort: Used for health, happiness, strength and protection. It’s now used medicinally to treat depression and even out mood swings.
Vervain: Use to promote peace, harmonious interactions, love and protection. If you have a pot of the plant where you earn money it will ensure prosperous endeavours. Placing some in a bowl of spring water will protect from unpleasant spirits when doing divination. It’s also considered a charm against snake bite. The Ancient Romans would place it on altars (especially when they were sacrificing young virgins!). Supposedly it was originally discovered on the Mount of Calvary and used to staunch the blood flow from Christ’s wounds.
Yarrow: Good for spells where you need courage, and also for love spells. It can be good to incorporate this into a charm for a newly-married couple as it will ensure seven years of happiness and fidelity!
Gosh! Having documented the contents of my magickal pantry makes me realize there’s quite a lot of stuff there! I have been practising Witchcraft for many years and certainly have acquired a selection of fairly exotic stuff. But don’t feel pressured to go out and get everything at once – a few basic staples are a good idea. Let your collection grow gradually.
Witch doctor
When I first started exploring Witchcraft, the main impression I got from all the books was that Witches were primarily benevolent healers, constantly thinking about the welfare of others and looking out for someone to heal. So I enrolled in a naturopathy college and for two years studied herbal medicine, nutrition and massage. I found all this enormously interesting and after classes during the day I would go home and pore over my Witchy books and be excited to find corresponding medicinal and metaphysical properties in the herbs and foods I used in ritual. At college we also studied anatomy, physiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and basic medical science, and I found what I learnt there augmented my rituals at home when I was making healing potions and charms for friends and myself. For example, knowing exactly where the liver was in the body and what the surrounding tissues and blood vessels looked like really enhanced my visualizations when I made a healing charm for a friend who had a long history of alcohol and drug abuse and had been diagnosed with Hepatitis B.
I work differently at healing now. For a start, since I left college nine years ago and did not keep up my study, a lot of what I learned has become a dim memory, but this hasn’t necessarily diminished my healing abilities. As I reinforce throughout this book, I’ve increasingly discovered that it is the intent and the passion of the subconcious, not the props of the logical mind and physical tools, that magick mostly works with. These days, if I feel I am getting sick or run down, I say a few firm words to myself and maybe a couple of affirmations and perform a brief visualization. Now on the rare occasions I do get ill it’s usually when I have a few days off and my body says, ‘Ahh … cool! Some time to rest and detoxify!’
The one part of my body that can be vulnerable is my throat. As soon as I sense a tickle, I imagine a ‘neck cuff’ of azure blue light that not only encircles my throat but penetrates right through to my red, sore, swollen vocal cords. I immediately sense a calming and defusing coolness and then I say a few words to myself like, ‘Get well, body, we don’t have time to be sick!’ These words might sound a bit harsh, but magick works best when you are completely honest and don’t try to pull the wool over your own or anyone else’s eyes.
When I suffer from period cramps, I visualize a cool, blue, fluffy light gently nursing my womb and a white diamond egg-like sphere of light surrounding my body to shield me from the draining, masculine energies to which women can be more susceptible when bleeding. Injuries don’t stop me either. Once, I sprained my ankle and was on crutches. Again I used cooling blue light, but this time I saw it as a weightless, inflated, ice-bubble that clung to my ankle like a child’s swimming float, supporting it and metaphysically taking the weight off it.
Visualizing a healing light only takes a split second. If you try to spend ten minutes doggedly seeing a blue light around your neck, often your mind will wander or you might even fight the image, get stressed, feel inadequate and then be much more likely to feel worse. Some Witches I know insist on very disciplined visualization and in the early days I would spend a lot of time training my ‘mind’s eye’ – but often I would get frustrated at not being able to hold an unwavering mental image for over ten seconds. It was a big breakthrough for me the day that I realized magick works between the worlds of the physical and supernatural and, as such, linear time means little when it comes to effective magickal workings. That’s not to say that certain times of the day, month and year aren’t more effective for certain magick, but when you need a quick fix you should let go of patriarchal notions of past, present and future.
The Goddess’s concept of time is that every potential of every reality that ever was, is and will be is all happening at once in a big stupendous sphere. All you have to do is see the reality that you want and be it – just know that you are well, and when you feel that deep shift of reality go ‘clunk’ in your gut, let go of it and get on with your day. Of course you can tap into the image of healing light for reassurance any time you need to after that, but don’t feel you have to be a vigilante against illness. A few seconds of calm, confident knowing is better than a day full of ‘trying to know’. Obviously, when you’re ill it’s a good idea to take some action on the physical plane too, like rest, vitamins, and whatever natural remedies are suitable. If you’re just not together enough to heal yourself, see a naturopath and/or a doctor. Of course, if you know a competent Witch definitely ask her or him to do a healing spell for you.
Oils
I have a lot of essential oils. Always try to get pure essential oils and not perfumed ones (mine are all pure except for the carnation one which is slightly perfumed). I use them in amulets and charms, as anointing oils (usually a combination of nine different drops in two teaspoons of jojoba), and in traditional aromatherapy ways (oil burning, in the bath, etc). Below are the oils I have on hand with a brief description of their qualities.
Basil: Promotes harmony and helps stop fighting between loved ones.
Bergamot: Prosperity.
Black Pepper: Energy and enthusiasm.
Camphor: Purification.
Carnation: Uplifting, good for luck spells.
Cinnamon: Good for sex magick.
Clary Sage: Euphoric, great for PMT blues, protective (especially for women). Contraindicated during pregnancy as it can bring on contractions.
Cypress: Masculine energy (especially when combined with patchouli), good for assisting in letting go.
Eucalyptus: Healing and protection.
Frankincense: A wonderful all rounder, very purifying and protective.
Geranium: Love, happiness and protection.
Ginger: Courage, strength (mental and physical).
Jasmine: Sacred to the Moon Goddess and enhances feminine qualities.
Jojoba: As a base for anointing oils.
Lavender: Healing, love, anti-depression.
Lemon: Moon energy, for nurturing, cleansing and strengthening.
Lemongrass: Purification, enhances psychic abilities.
Mandarin: Happiness.
Marjoram: A spring cleaner (especially when combined with thyme).
Myrrh: Purification.
Neroli: Young love, enhances sensuality, and can also be calming when feeling confused.
Nutmeg: To help with divination.
Orange: Sun energy, growth and development.
Palmarosa: Healing and love.
Patchouli: Love and to invoke the Goddess Hecate.
Pennyroyal: Strength and protection (contraindicated during pregnancy).
Peppermint: Transformative properties. Rub a little on your temples and the soles of your feet to help you unwind!
Petitgrain: Protection.
Pine: Exorcism and purification.
Sandalwood: Substitutes for just about anything – healing, love, protection, purification.
Thyme: For ‘spring cleaning’ of the mind and body.
Ylang Ylang: An aphrodisiac and can encourage a sense of interconnectedness with all things.
Obviously a lot of the properties of extracted oils correspond with the originating substance from which they were extracted. Generally, when you use oils for anointing or as additions to amulets and charms you are connecting with earth and water elemental qualities, whereas burning herbs and oils brings in the air and fire elements, so sometimes it can be worth doubling up with an original substance and its extracted oil to give a full-on magickal punch!
Goddesses and Gods
Having been brought up in a monotheistic religion I was overwhelmed when I discovered the plethora of Pagan and Wiccan Goddesses and Gods – let alone those of other cultures and religions that as a Witch I was free to respect, explore and identify with. When I started practising Witchcraft I was drawn to recognizing and acknowledging only the Goddess under many guises (e.g. Kali, Diana, Cerridwen). I guess this was a reaction to being brought up Catholic and forced to recognise only a male God. After a couple of years as a Witch I could no longer ignore the animus in me and I started to invoke the God during ritual, primarily in the form of Pan, Lord of the Forests, and then generally as a constant force connected to the Goddess as her consort, lover and son. I relate to the Jungian concept of every soul being composed of anima (female polarity) and animus (male polarity) to be equally explored by both sexes. I now relate to Goddess energy as being omnipresent – existing constantly in all things in equal intensity; and the God is more dynamic in that he comes and goes and sparks change and movement in the state of things.
I see the Goddess and God having a light and dark side. Both are capable of creation and destruction which I see as essential and positive. Destruction is necessary and ultimately clears the way for future growth. Similarly, the dark side isn’t always ominous and scary, it’s challenging and often there’s more to learn there than in the light.
I do strongly relate to the concept of Gaia, i.e. that planet Earth is a cohesive living entity and we are a part of it as an organism, and our consciousness and our physicality are directly evolved from it (which isn’t to say humans won’t inhabit other planets one day). The closest experience I have had of seeing the Goddess or God was looking down into the mouth of a volcano I climbed in Vanuatu, seeing the molten lava spitting out and knowing that, as a life form, I originated from something like that. I believe that the Life Force itself is sacred and I relate to it in a reverential way as an infinite and impersonal phenomenon. Everything with Life Force is divine, which is how I relate to Elementals, Nature spirits, etc – they represent ways in which humans can understand and interact with the existence of these elements, plants, flowers, etc, beyond the physical plane.
Below are some of my favourite Goddesses and Gods. It’s really up to you to decide which ones you are particularly inspired by and take the time to research why you feel drawn to specific ones – they help you to understand yourself.
Goddesses
The Great Goddess or Great Lady: Maiden/Mother/Crone, reflecting the cycle of life and the seasons, and the waxing/full/waning moon.
* Maiden: Generally considered innocent; not ignorant but inexperienced. She is bound to no-one and can be Virgin but does not have to be celibate. She is associated with Spring, it is a time of exploring potentials, being resourceful and open to everything without fear.
* Mother: As much as it is often denigrated in patriarchal times, a woman’s ability to produce a child is one of the most profound and powerful symbols of femininity. Symbolically the Mother is the provider and carer of Life itself. She is associated with Summer.
* Crone: The Wise Old Woman is exalted as the ultimate symbol of power and feminine authority. Having been Maiden and Mother and integrated these, she is now completely devoted to her own Mystery and able to dispense that wisdom to others, as well as assisting in healing of the body and spirit, child-rearing and insight into the world beyond life.
Cerridwen (Celtic): The Triple Goddess and mainly worshipped as the Death Sow (symbolized by a large white or black pig) and represented by the moon. Thought to possess a sacred Cauldron of Wisdom.
Morrigan (Celtic): The Great Queen of Battle and Death, she is often represented by a large black crow and she holds the secrets of life and death.
Morgan Le Fay (Celtic): The Great Witch and strongest female force in Arthurian mythology and (perhaps not entirely coincidentally) depicted as one of the major ‘baddies’ in most versions of the story.
Brigit (Celtic): Goddess of Fire, Hearth, Virginity and Fertility, the Sabbat of Candlemas (Imbolc) is held in her honour.
Diana/Artemis (Roman/Greek): Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon. She is the self-reliant Maiden, needing no other, and favoured by feminist Wiccans as their ultimate role model.
Persephone (Greek): Demeter’s daughter and Queen of the Underworld. She lives with Hades in the Winter as the Earth sleeps and waits her return in Spring when everything blossoms with joy.
Demeter (Greek): Earth Goddess who presides over grains and harvests, she is Persephone’s mother.
Rhea (Greek): Queen of the Universe and mother of Zeus.
Selene (Greek): Goddess of the Moon.
Aphrodite/Venus (Greek/Roman): Goddess of Love and Fertility.
Hestia (Greek): Goddess of the Home and Hearth, a Fire Goddess.
Hecate (Greek): The ultimate Crone, Goddess of Magick and Patroness of Witchcraft.
Medusa (Greek): Serpent Goddess. Prior to being deified by the Greeks Medusa was known and sacred to the Amazons of Libya. She represents the wisdom that comes with staring Death in the face.
Lilith (Hebrew): Wife of Adam and original inhabitor of Eden. She cursed Adam and went to live by the Red Sea, where she gave birth to 100 children a day. Her myth demonstrates her to be the Great Mother and keeper of the Secrets of Femininity – she is feared by Christians and was erased from the Bible but she is a source of inspiration to Witches.
Kali (Hindu): The Triple Goddess of creation, preservation and destruction, she is most often related to as the Destroyer. She is keeper of the blessings of Life and Death, birth-giver and killer all at once. She is fantastic to invoke when you want to clear out the dross of your life (and one of my favourite Goddess images).
Ishtar (Babylonian): The Great Goddess. All acts of love and voluptuous passion are sacred to her.
Maat (Egyptian): Goddess of Law and Justice – after death she weighs souls in her scales and decides whether they go to Heaven or Hell.
Isis: (Egyptian) Great Goddess and Mother of All – her dark aspect is Nephthys. She is the mother of Horus from her union with Osiris.
Sekhmet (Egyptian): Lioness Goddess, her name means ‘powerful’ and she will protect, guard and bring you success in home life as well as career.
Gods
The Great God/Lord: The Great God/Lord unifies everything as he is the Son/Consort/Lover of the Goddess. Witches and Pagans mostly relate to him as the Horned God, ruler of the Forests and Animals – he is the link between all living things as they manifest in the physical world and the glue that binds the Goddess/Lady’s creations. He provides by hunting and balances the life/death interaction of all life forms.
Lugh (Celtic): Sun God and God of the Arts, his festival is Lammas (Lughnasadh) – the harvest.
Cu Chulainn (Celtic): The Dying God – one that has lived as son, lover and father of the Goddess. He had a dramatic death, being bound to a post so he could keep on fighting when utterly knackered (like Odin and Christ, another God sacrificed on a tree) and so also has an aspect as a warrior God.
Merlyn (Celtic): The Great Magician, Prophet and Enchanter, Merlyn is friend and consort of Morgan Le Fay.
Cernunnos (Celtic): The Horned God – one of the oldest representations of God form. Since prehistoric times there have been images of men wearing animal horns to embody godliness. Cernunnos is Lord of the Untamed, the Primal Forces and Ruler of Animals and Forests.
Bacchus/Dionysus (Roman/Greek): God of Life and Fertility. He is honoured by feasting on food, wine and physical pleasure. His Greek form, as Dionysus, is seriously potent, being the God of divine intoxication and immortality. Bacchus could be seen as a kind of Dean Martin, but Dionysus rocks as a kind of Jim Morrison!
Hades (Greek): Lord of the Underworld who rules alongside Hecate (not in a consort role though). He abducted (but I prefer to think invited) Persephone to live with him in Winter.
Mercury/Hermes (Roman/Greek): The winged Messenger God, he is the guide to the Underworld and represents intelligence, magick, medicine, travel and communication.
Pan (Greek): The hoofed and horned God of the Forest and Earth. Highly sexed (hence the term ‘horny’!) and honours fertility.
Jupiter/Zeus (Roman/Greek): Father of the Sky, he controls lightning and thunder and is also known as the Rain God.
Neptune/Poseidon (Roman/Greek): God of the Sea, Neptune/Poseidon can be invoked to ask for safe journey, and to calm disputes and arguments in relationships.
Ra (Egyptian): God of the Sun and Day, who brings harmony, peace and joy, whilst removing blockages and obstacles.
Osiris (Egyptian): Great God and Isis’s partner, father of Horus. He sacrificed himself so that life could regenerate.
Horus (Egyptian): Child of Light and God of Battle. He seeks to avenge his father’s death.
Set (Egyptian): God of Night and the Seeker of Knowledge beyond what is immediately apparent.
Troth (Egyptian): God of Medicine, science and higher studies. Excellent to contact if you need help with studies or you need to retain knowledge quickly.
Elementals, Angels and Mythical Animals
Elementals
Witches recognize four basic elements – Air, Earth, Fire and Water – and consider them essential in the working of magick, since balancing these elements harmonizes us with nature and our place on this planet. The four elements permeate all: the Four Quarters of our Sacred Circle; the four groupings of astrological signs and our ritual tools – the chalice (water); athame (air); pentacle (earth); wand (fire), as well as the four groups of the Minor Arcana of the Tarot – Cups (water), Pentacles (earth), Swords (air), Wands (fire).
The way the Elementals appear to you usually depends on your own proclivities and magickal tastes, and I relate to them in much the same way as Gods and Goddesses – that is, they are a way a human can relate to a form that is other than itself.
The four elements also have corresponding animal presences that can be utilized in magickal work.
Air: Bird. Seen as intermediaries between Earth and the Heavens, birds carry dreams to the planes where they come true and are believed to understand the mysteries of life and death as they can travel between both realms.
Earth: Cow. The domestication of cattle allowed humans to till the soil and plant crops, stay in one place and build settlements. The cow represents the application of physical work and manifestation on the earth plane – it is a symbol of physical nourishment and sustenance.
Fire: Cat. Famed as the symbol of the Egyptian Goddess, Bast – Goddess of the Sun. Revered as magickal animals and in many ways the ultimate Witch companion, cats are fiercely independent and yet love being with humans. Their nature is assertive and self-reliant and they, therefore, inspire effective action.
Water: Serpent/Snake. Symbolizes life, death and rebirth and is an ancient symbol of Universal Wisdom. It is one of the most recognized religious symbols in the world. The symbol of infinity is the snake looped with its tail in its mouth.
Angels
Angels are generally Judeo/Christian forces but I like recognizing and acknowledging them as they represent the noble qualities of those religions. They can be called on to represent and guard the Quarters when casting Circle.
Raphael: Angel of Air who frees trapped energy.
Uriel: Angel of Earth who grounds and secures all.
Michael: Angel of Fire who wields a mighty sword and encourages swift action.
Gabriel: Angel of Water who nurtures emotional harmony.
Mythical Animals
Mythical animals are usually created by combining the attributes of different animals into one creature and as such their power and magickal reputation is enhanced.
Dragon: One of my favourites! I have one tattooed on my left arm. Dragons are seen to embody the four elements: Air, with its wings; Earth, with its serpent body; Fire, with its fire-breathing lungs; and Water, with its ability to swim and breathe underwater. Dragons in various forms appear in all cultures’ mythologies and have been feared and worshipped – the image of a Dragon guarding hordes of precious stones and treasures is a symbol of great wisdom.
Unicorn: A favourite of the New Agers, unicorns are seen as benevolent creatures. With their long, phallic horns they are a symbol of male virility. The horn also represents spiritual enlightenment and purity. Unicorns are sometimes represented with wings and linked to the mythical stallion, Pegasus, who is seen as manifestation of the artistic and divinely-inspired nature of humans. He is considered a Lunar animal, white and moving across the sky (the constellation of Pegasus), and when he stamps his hoofs on the earth fountains of water appear, so he also embodies the emotional element of water.
Phoenix: The myth of this amazing bird originated in Arabia. It would live for hundreds of years and then smear its wings with myrrh and dive into fire, only to rise from the ashes rejuvenated and empowered. It is an inspiring symbol of survival and the cycles of life, death and rebirth.
Witchy Tip
One of the best tips I can give for spellcasting is to keep your mouth shut! When a spell is done it is really important not to talk about it to anyone and also not to go over and over it in your own head. Just do the spell and forget about it – let the magick do its thing. The old proverb, ‘A watched pot never boils’ also applies here: the magick will manifest much faster if it is left alone. Only when your spell has come to fruition is it fine to talk about it with kindred folk if you so desire. Also, avoid worrying about whether a spell is working or not – it’s like letting a seed you planted grow by itself, rather than digging it up every day or two to see how it’s going.
